PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS GUMWEED/379

Storage: The drug should be stored in tightly closed

containers.

LITERATURE

Beuscher N, Bodinet C Willigmann I. Harnischfeger G,

^T Biological activity of Baptisia tinctoria extracts. In: Inst, fiir

Angew. Botanik der Univ. Hamburg, Angewandte Botanik,

Berichte 6, 46-61. 1997.

Randall RC, Phillips GO. Williams PA. Food Hydrocolloids

3:65-75, 1989.

Further information in:

Berger F, Handbuch der Drogenkunde. W Maudrich Verlag

Wien 1964.

Hansel R. Keller K. Rimpler H. Schneider G (Hrsg.). Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin. Heidelberg. New York, 1992-

1994.

Steinegger E, Hansel R. Pharmakognosie. 5. Aufl., Springer

Verlag Heidelberg 1992.

Teuscher E. Biogene Arzneimittel. 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Gumweed

Grindelia camporum

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the flowering

branches and the dried leaves.

Flower and Fruit: Gumweed has a number of individual

composite heads, each with a diameter of 2 to 3 cm, at the

end of leafy stems. The involucral bracts are 3 to 8 mm by

0.5 to 1 mm, with very viscid, cylindrical, deflected apexes.

If present, the ligules are 7 to 15 mm long and yellow to

orange-yellow. The inner florets are yellow. The achaenes

are 2 to 3 mm, oblong and brown. The 2 to 8 pappus-awns

are 3 to 5 mm long and usually finely serrulate.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is an erect biennial or
perennial herb or small bush that grows up to 1 m high, often
A branched above. The alternate leaves are 3 to 7 cm long,
triangular to ovate-oblong, clasping, resinous-punctate, ser-
rate-crenate or entire-margined, and light green. They break
off easily when dry.

Habitat: The plant grows in the Southwestern U.S. and in

Mexico.

Production: Gumweed herb consists of the dried tops and

leaves of Grindelia robusta and/or Grindelia squarrosa,

which are gathered during flowering season.

Other Names: August Flower, Grindelia, Rosin Weed, Tar

Weed

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Diterpene acids: grindelic acid, hydroxygrindelic acid, 6-

oxogrindelic acid. 7alpha,8alpha-epoxygrindelic acid

Volatile oil: including, among others, borneol, bornyl

acetate, camphene, camphor, myrcene, alpha- and beta-

pinene

Polyynes: including matricarianol, matricarianolacetate

Saponins

Tannins

Flavonoids: including kaempferol-3,7-dimethyl ether, ka-

empferol-3-dimethyl ether, luteolin, quercetin, quercetin-

3.3'-dimethyl ether

EFFECTS

In vitro, the drug has an antimicrobial, fungistatic and

spasmolytic effect caused by the resin, which contains

diterpenes, and the phenol carbolic acids. An antibacterial

effect has also been demonstrated in vitro. In addition, an

inflammation-inhibiting effect has been proven.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Cough


• Bronchitis

Unproven Uses: Gumweed is also used for infections in the

mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Health risks following the proper administration of designat-

ed therapeutic dosages are not recorded. Side effects listed in

older scientific literature (Lewin) include gastric irritation

and diarrhea. Large dosages, however, are said to have a

poisonous effect.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Comminuted herb for teas and

other galenic preparations for internal use.

Preparation: The tincture is prepared in a 1:10 or 1:5

concentration with 60% to 80% ethanol (v/v).

Daily Dosage: The recommended dosage is 4 to 6 g of drug

or 3 to 6 g Gumweed liquid extract. If using the tincture, the

dosage is 1.5 to 3 ml.

LITERATURE

Hegnauer R, Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Bde 1-11,

Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston. Berlin 1962-1997.